The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-11-17
THE EXECUTION,

THE EXECUTION.
Full Particulars in Detail Of What Tran.
spired on the Gallows.
Associated Prees- Night Report.
CHICAGO, Cook County Jail, November
lit lacked Just seven minutes and a
half of the hour of high noon when a
single ite-shrouded figure, above which
was face of yellOwish pallor-the face
of August Spies-psssed the first post of
, the gallows. The gaping crowd, ten feet
below, half rose, invOluntarily, from their
chairs, at the first glimpse of the appari-
ton advancing across the scaffold. Spies
looked calm, and glanced down at the re-
, porters with trace of his old-time cynical
smile. He walked firmly over the drop,
guided by the grasp of a deputy, to the
furthest edge of the gallows.
Following close came Fischer-close
enough to touch Spies shroud had his
hands not been pinioned under the white
muslin. Fischers countenance had a pc
culiar glisten, totally unlike any line of
Engels heavy features, and in strange
contrast with the dead lack of color in
the pinched lineaments of Parsons. TIL
once jaunty, vivacious Texan came last
a withered old man. He had aged twenty
years since the day and hour, scarce twelve
months before, when he tripped lightly
into court before Judge Gary, and flip
PANTY declared he was ready to be ried
at once for his life. t
The moment his feet touched the scat
fold Parsons seemed completely to lose
his identity, and to feel that his spirit was
no longer part of his body. He had
wrought himself to an ecstacy of solemn
self gloriication. Only he-the one
American-seemed to realize to the full
that he must die in manner to impress,
if possible, on all future genera
tions the thought that he was
martyr. No tragedian that has
paced the stage in America ever made a
more marvellous presentation of self
chosen part. Perfect in every detail.
The upward turn of his eyes, his distant,
far away look, and, above all, the attitude
of apparent complete resignation, that
every fold of the awkward shroud only
seemed to make more distinct, was by far
the most striking feature of the entire
gallows pictures.
The squat form of Engel, alongside
with his stupid, wide-jawed face, made a
of the halo of martyr.
Fischer was head and shoulders taller
than the other three, making his only oc-
casional looks of too evident bravado
more noticeable than might otherwise be
ut sorry disadvantage, compared with
the steady GOODNESS of Spies. The latter's
exhibition far surpassed, as a wonder, the
demeanor of any of his comrades.
THE HANaMAN's KNOT.
Four county deputies, standing to the
rear of the four condemned men, began,
without delay, to adjust the ropes, Spies
moose being the one first placed. He did
not appear to regard it of any more
consequence than new linen collar. The
knot was slipped down the head close
against his neck. Spies did not show a
tremor, but when the same process was
being carried out with Fischer he turned
and quickly whispered to the balllft
some suggestion concerning the
rope. Fischer's occasional ardor
was quite noticeably lessened
when he felt the hempen ssrand, and
! Engel bit his underlip hard when his turn
came. Just then Dr.. Murphy, a young
. physician, standing back of Engel, whis-
peringly cracked joke at Engel's ears.
: Incredible as it may seem, the low-browed
anarchist laughed outright, with the rope
around his neck, and while another wac
being fastened on Parsons, by his side,
but the grotesque laugh stopped in sin
gle instant, and Parsons, meek as saint,
cast his eyes upward at the dangling rope
above him.
THE WHITE CAPS.
Before the four anarchists had an ink
ling of what was to be done, the white
caps were deftly slipped on their heads
and drawn quickly down to their necks
shutting off the view of each as com
pletely and with less warning than does
the camera cloth of photographer.
August Sries was the first of she four
doomed men to make use of his wits
while he could. In tone of intense bit
terness of spirit he-the man who wrote
the infamous revenge circular-hissed out
between his tightly clenched teeth:
"There will come a time when our
silence will be more powerful than the
voices they are strangling to DEATH"
The last syllable of Spies concluding
! words were hoarse with suppressed pas
sion, and had not reached an end, when
/ Engel, raising his voice, wildly cried:
"Hurrah for anarchy"
Fischer caught the fire of the utterance
, and still more loudly exclaimed:
"Hurrah for anarchy" adding: "lhif
! is the happiest moment of my life"
Then there was silence like the grave
8 broken abruptly by the slow, measured
intonation of Parsons-like white rObet
priest before the altar of sacrifice
making not dying request, but rather 6
r command or warning, which he sounded
t forth:
5 "May l be allowed to speakY"
+ Then with slow entreaty came:
4 "Will you let me speak, Sheriff MaisonH p
r There was another slight pause, when